All posts tagged: Rivers

Protecting one of Europe’s last wild rivers: a volunteering trip to the Vjosa in Albania | Albania holidays

Protecting one of Europe’s last wild rivers: a volunteering trip to the Vjosa in Albania | Albania holidays

Published by Sam Flores

Our induction into tree-planting comes from Pietro, an Italian hydromorphologist charged with overseeing our group of 20 or so volunteers for the week. We’re standing in a makeshift nursery full of spindly willow and poplar saplings just above the Vjosa River, a graceful, meandering waterway that cuts east to west across southern Albania from its source 169 miles away upstream in Greece. Expertly extricating an infant willow from the clay-rich soil, Pietro holds up the plant for us all to see. Its earthy tendrils look oddly exposed and vulnerable. “The trick is not to accidentally snick the stem or break the roots,” he says. Message registered, we take up our hoes and head off in pairs to follow his instructions. Map of Vjosa River, Albania The volunteering week is the brainchild of EcoAlbania and the Austria-based Riverwatch. Back in 2023, these two conservation charities succeeded in persuading the Albanian government to designate the River Vjosa as Europe’s first “wild river national park”. It was a timely intervention. According to new research co-funded by Riverwatch, Albania …

Amazon is getting drier as deforestation shuts down atmospheric rivers

Amazon is getting drier as deforestation shuts down atmospheric rivers

Published by skeptic

Vast areas of the Amazon rainforest have been burned for cattle ranching MICHAEL DANTAS/AFP via Getty Images Deforestation has reduced rainfall over the Amazon, suggesting the rainforest could reach a catastrophic tipping point sooner than expected. Satellite observations and rain gauge measurements show that the amount of rain falling in the southern Amazon basin declined by 8 to 11 per cent between 1980 and 2019. Tree cover in that part of the Amazon shrank by 16 per cent in roughly the same period, mainly because the forest was slashed and burned for beef cattle ranching. The northern Amazon basin has suffered far less deforestation and saw only a slight increase in precipitation, which was not statistically significant. While a recent study linked deforestation to drier weather within 300 kilometres, the new research found this connection across a basin more than 3000 kilometres wide. That shows destroying rainforest can also hurt nearby ranches and soy farms, says Dominick Spracklen at the University of Leeds, UK, who worked on the new study. “Some people in agribusiness might …

Inside the bitter fallout between Joan Rivers and Johnny Carson

Inside the bitter fallout between Joan Rivers and Johnny Carson

Published by Daniella Wilson

Joan Rivers and Johnny Carson’s feud is now the stuff of legend, having sparked four decades ago. Their fraught relationship has recently been re-examined by Mark Malkoff, who authored Love Johnny Carson, with the writer sharing the real reason behind their rift. Joan first appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1965 as a last-minute guest, and charmed both Johnny and his audience with her sharp wit. She went on to appear on the show more than 100 times, both as a guest, and a guest host when Johnny was away. © Gene Arias/NBC via Getty ImagesJoan often appeared on Johnny’s show throughout the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s The pair built a strong professional relationship, and Joan considered him to be her mentor. Their friendship soured, however, in 1986, when Joan was offered her own late-night talk show in direct competition with Johnny. Her final appearance on The Tonight Show came in April of that year, when she celebrated the 21st anniversary of her debut on the show. Just days later, she announced …

Ibex, bears and underground rivers: why Slovenia is perfect for nature-loving families | Slovenia Your Way

Ibex, bears and underground rivers: why Slovenia is perfect for nature-loving families | Slovenia Your Way

Published by Sam Flores

Packed with outdoor activities, from kayaking to canyoning, and swimming to wildlife watching, Slovenia is a fantastic family adventure. Safe, affordable and accessible (just over two hours by air from London), it’s a place where kids will feel genuinely welcome. There are castles, caves and beaches, medieval fairs, zip lines and adventure parks, fabulous food and organic farms, and campsites set amid breathtaking natural scenery. It’s impossible not to fall in love with Slovenia’s great outdoors. “To grow up in Slovenia with the Julian Alps as a back yard is an enormous gift,” says local mountain guide Rok Zalokar who did just that. “And the best part is, after all these years, now with my own family … our favourite place is still here.” If you are dreaming of adventures that the family will still be talking about years from now, join our whistlestop tour of wild and wonderful Slovenia and all it has to offer … Take to the waterIn the south-east, the slow-flowing Kolpa River is one of the country’s warmest rivers, reaching …

Palm Springs-area pools with waterslides, lazy rivers and day passes

Palm Springs-area pools with waterslides, lazy rivers and day passes

Published by Sam Flores

Formerly a Hyatt Regency, this expansive resort underwent a $64-million property-wide renovation in 2024 and rebranded to fall under the luxury Grand Hyatt umbrella. The rooms, villas and restaurants all saw a major facelift, as did the poolscape with new decorative archways, landscaping and seating. The showpiece is the HyTides water park, which is a holdover from the Regency days with a 450-foot lazy river and 30-foot dueling waterslides that overlook a whopping eight pools, including an adults-only sanctuary. One of my favorite new areas is a newly refreshed hideout for kiddos with a splash pad, a mini waterslide and a 1-foot-high wading pool. Forgot swim diapers or a flotation vest? The amenity stand at the pool provides them for free. At many times, the pool area takes on a summer camp vibe with free group activities ranging from chalk art to bracelet making, fishing, tie-dye and bingo. On many Friday and Saturday evenings, outdoor movies are screened under the stars with s’mores kits available to purchase. Pool chairs are plentiful, even in peak season, …